Renting a car in LA

[Chucksta]

I will be using Hertz in LA

Liability Insurance Supplement 12.95 USD PER DAY
Loss Damage Waiver 15.00 USD PER DAY
Personal Accident Insurance / Personal Effects Coverage

Which insurance should I get? Is there something similar to Australia where you can reduce the excess to $0?

 

[serfty]

Car hire insurance works differently in the US than it does in Oz.

Generally, no OZ Travel Insurance policy will cover Liability Insurance Supplement or Loss Damage Waiver.

However, most will cover in some manner Personal Accident Insurance and Personal Effects.

If you only hire OS once or twice a year, you are better of buying the insurance from Hertz as part of the hire contract.

Some time ago I hired a car in SEA, rate was USD18, add-ons took it to USD85. That's the way of it.

There's some quite good threads here on this issue.

If hiring directly from the company you can either 1) Self-insure:shock: or 2) Pay their insurance :-| .

There's some useful threads here on AFF (The first listed is very informative from post #25 and #31 on):-

• http://www.frequentflyer.com.au/community/your-questions/rental-vehicle-insurance-excess-6521.html
• http://www.frequentflyer.com.au/community/your-questions/us-car-rental-rates-ridiculously-8669.html

 

[Chucksta]

thanks for the threads serfty.

But the more I read them, the more confused i get.

Does this mean you can't rent a car with $0 excess like in Australia?

 

[serfty]

... Does this mean you can't rent a car with $0 excess like in Australia?

As posted, car hire insurance works differently in the US than it does in Oz.

Most Oz travel insurance covers you for Personal Accident Costs and Personal Effects Losses.

However, generally you will need to purchase from the hire car company:

• Liability Insurance Supplement (LIS) and
• Loss/Collision Damage Waiver (DLW/CDW)

There are annual policies that cover this but you really need to be hiring a lot more than once or twice a year for those.

If only 2 or 3 times per year, you are better of buying the insurance from Hertz as part of the hire contract.

Some time ago I hired a car for a day in SEA, rate was USD18, add-ons took it to USD79. That's the way of it.

Another way is to pre-pay in Oz though the resellers mentioned in those threads. I have not done this.

 

[drron]

I drive 5-10000 miles a year in the US.Always in rentals.I now use globalCARS - Car Hire, Auto Leasing & Motor Home Rentals - Australia, New Zealand, Europe, USA - globalCARS
The rates have always been a lot cheaper than renting direct and include all insurances.They generally use Alamo or Hertz.Compare the rates.If you use Hertz they still honor No1 club benefits such as extra driver free.The only downside is that you pay in advance.

 

[Maca44]

In the USA I use Drive Away Holidays International & Local Car Rentals Book Today! and had no problems, and the insurance is inclusive. There are so many options so you just have to select one that you need.

 

[Chucksta]

Is an Australian Driver's License sufficient to rent a car in Los Angeles?

 

[Febs]

To simplify it:

Liability Insurance Supplement (also known as "Supplemental Liability Insurance") is basically third party property insurance.

Collision/Loss Damage Waiver, while not technically insurance, has the same basic effect as comprehensive insurance.

Personally, I wouldn't hire a car without them.

Cheers,
- Febs.

 

[Febs]

Is an Australian Driver's License sufficient to rent a car in Los Angeles?

Yep. You'd probably want your Aussie passport too.
There's a common misconception that the International Driving Permit is for use in situations like this. It's not - it's basically a translation of your licence for countries where English is not the native language. Absolutely not required in the US.

Cheers,
- Febs.

 

[Alanslegal]

For car bookings in USA esp in CA, I use Cheap Car Hire | Cheap Car Rental USA Canada and I am willing to bet a few beers that their rates are cheapest!!

Their rates include Unlimited Mileage, CDW/LDW, SLI/3rd Party to $1M, all taxes and fees, No charge for cancellation/changes.

 

[NM]

There's a common misconception that the International Driving Permit is for use in situations like this. It's not - it's basically a translation of your licence for countries where English is not the native language. Absolutely not required in the US.

I tried telling that to a Maryland Police Officer once, and he had a very different opinion regarding my need to carry an IDP . I know you are correct, but the facts did not alter the threat of arrest for not having an IDP and showing him my Queensland DL.

He pulled me over because my Avis rental car had expired registration (I collected the car 2 days earlier). He eventually let me go when I showed him the rental agreement, my passport and airline ticket showing I was departing the country the next day. But he was adamant that I must have an IDP and that the only acceptable foreign licences were Canadian and Mexican.

 

[drron]

Louisiana police on the other hand gave me exceptional service showing my Qld DL.I had been rear-ended in a hotel parking lot and as soon as that licence appeared they couldnt do enough for me.reporting it to the rental agency and giving me their card to contact them if the agency caused me any problems-I didnt hear another thing.When i returned the car they knew what had happened and was told as not my fault there were no extra payments.

 

[Arthur Hodgson]

For car bookings in USA esp in CA, I use Cheap Car Hire | Cheap Car Rental USA Canada and I am willing to bet a few beers that their rates are cheapest!!

Their rates include Unlimited Mileage, CDW/LDW, SLI/3rd Party to $1M, all taxes and fees, No charge for cancellation/changes.

I might take that bet on. I quite fancy a few beers, but would be happy to shout if I lose.

The company I use for car hire in the USA can provide me with a compact car in LA for approx AUD 45 a day, including all insurances and a tankfull of petrol (what's that worth these days?).

How much would your company charge for this?

 

[dragonman]

The company I use for car hire in the USA can provide me with a compact car in LA for approx AUD 45 a day, including all insurances and a tankfull of petrol (what's that worth these days?).

And that company would be ..... ?

 

[Arthur Hodgson]

And that company would be ..... ?

It's a good question, and of course, I did purposely leave the name out, so as not to create a rush, and possibly have this excellent deal withdrawn.

I will say that it's not an Australian company, possibly European. When I get my case of beer I might be more forthcoming, but I am not telling any porkies...

 

[dragonman]

It's a good question, and of course, I did purposely leave the name out, so as not to create a rush, and possibly have this excellent deal withdrawn.

I will say that it's not an Australian company, possibly European. When I get my case of beer I might be more forthcoming, but I am not telling any porkies...

You know Arthur that is a shame. This is the first instance I can recall on this website of "I know and I ain't sharing". One of the best things on this forum is willingness to help others with information. Pity its a philosophy you seem not to share.

 

[Alanslegal]

I might take that bet on. I quite fancy a few beers, but would be happy to shout if I lose.

The company I use for car hire in the USA can provide me with a compact car in LA for approx AUD 45 a day, including all insurances and a tankfull of petrol (what's that worth these days?).

How much would your company charge for this?

Just doing a dummy booking for 1 day - a compact car eg. Dodge Neon turned out to be USD$38 incl taxes, incl those waivers in my previous post.

It does come with a full tank of gas but you have to return the car full of gas too

 

[Arthur Hodgson]

Just doing a dummy booking for 1 day - a compact car eg. Dodge Neon turned out to be USD$38 incl taxes, incl those waivers in my previous post.

It does come with a full tank of gas but you have to return the car full of gas too

Well, I guess I win. My car can go back empty, so that's something like a $40 value.

What kind of beer were we talking about?

 

[trooper]

I use cheap_car-rental.com It also prices out as USD$38 all in for one day in LA.. for a 4 door compact (2 door is 36)

Thing I especialy like with that mob is that there are no one way drop off fees to hire/return in CA/NV/AZ....if renting from any of those three states...

Suits MY travel... YMMV!!:mrgreen:

 

[Alanslegal]

Damn!

The choice of beer is all yours......

Well, I guess I win. My car can go back empty, so that's something like a $40 value.

What kind of beer were we talking about?